UNIST(총장 박종래) 전기전자공학과 이종원 교수와 한국기계연구원(원장 류석현) 나노리소그래피 연구센터 정주연 박사 공동연구팀이 단백질 검출 민감도를 획기적으로 높인 새로운 바이오센서를 개발했다.
UNIST-Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials joint research team develops ultra-small protein detection sensor
A biosensor technology that uses light to quickly and accurately detect minute amounts of protein has been developed. It is expected to significantly increase the efficiency of protein detection, which is an important means of preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as coronavirus.
A joint research team led by Professor Jong-Won Lee of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at UNIST (President Jong-Rae Park) and Dr. Joo-Yeon Jeong of the Nanolithography Research Center at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (President Seok-Hyeon Ryu) announced on the 11th that they have developed a new biosensor that dramatically increases protein detection sensitivity.
Metamaterial absorbers that are highly sensitive to light can be used to accurately measure protein concentrations even in complex biological structures.
The new sensor detects proteins quickly and accurately without attaching biomarkers, unlike the complex and expensive methods of the past. It can save a lot of time and money compared to the existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses enzymes to detect color changes.
The research team used a metamaterial absorber that was made to be highly sensitive to mid-infrared light to increase the sensitivity of protein detection. Metamaterials are easy to mass-produce, so they are expected to be useful not only for preventing infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 vaccine, but also for diagnosing various diseases.
Using a single aptamer, we accurately detected trace amounts of protein even at the detection limit of thrombin (267.4 pM). Aptamers are substances that interact with specific proteins and are attracting attention as promising candidates to replace antibodies. Thrombin is a protein that causes blood to clot.
Immunoassays utilizing thrombin-binding aptamers have shown the potential to detect biomaterials in a clinical setting with minimal time, confirming their potential as a new, efficient and economical diagnostic tool that can replace the existing costly disease diagnostic processes.
Professor Lee Jong-won said, “We can detect very small amounts of proteins using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy that utilizes the strong binding effect,” and “It will enable inexpensive and rapid detection in the medical diagnosis and treatment process, making it easier to manage one’s health.”
Dr. Jeong Ju-yeon said, “The biosensor based on the infrared metamaterial absorber manufactured using nanoimprint lithography technology will greatly contribute to the early detection of diseases and prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.”
The research results were published online on May 27 in the international academic journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and were conducted with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.